Chapter 25: Hero

"So, Groudon right?" The charmander stumbled in place. He was dizzy from the fall, and his utter lack of sleep. "I'll fight ya then."

There was a deep bassy chuckle. "Fight? Don't be silly."

Pyre was suddenly sent flying into a nearby wall. Groudon had slammed tail first into the fire type. Just as suddenly rocks fell from above pelting the Charmander painfully.

"Ooow, okay, okay, we're doing this." Pyre stood up and shot forward, sprinting straight at Groudon. With all the strength he had Pyre punched the much larger mon. It wasn't very effective. And a massive fist slammed into him from above burying him abruptly under shattered stone.

There were three thuds just a short distance away. "No splitting up, we don't know what's down here, we need to find Pyre."

"All you've found is a fitting grave, just like this charmander." Groudon dug Pyre from the ground and hoisted him by his tail. The sapphire flame dimmed and barely clinging on.

"Pyre!? Let him go, you big bully!" Cobalt cried out firing off a hydro pump. It collided with Groudon, but seemed to have little effect.

Ivy likewise tried to whip the large mon with vines, to similar lacking effect.

Groudon gave an abrupt stomp. The cavern shook violently and magma welled up at the walls giving it a dark foreboding light. The shaking caused the three new arrivals to lose their footing and bounce roughly against the ground as though it was beating them down as well as rocks from the ceiling falling on top of them.

Once the ground stopped shaking Cobalt rushed over and shielded Ivy from the still falling rocks, only for Absolute to shield them both moments later.

"Guys…nooo.." Pyre could barely move in groudon's grasp.

"Hey, PISS ASS!" A voice called from above. Glancing up Pyre saw what appeared to be a hunk of raw metal plummeting toward them. "Eat this!" A seed shot down from the talking object. In a taunting way Groudon opened his mouth and swallowed the seed. It took effect in moments and Groudon dropped Pyre falling onto his butt and letting out a loud snore.

The metal object impacted the ground and rushed over to Pyre.

"I-Iron…what are…"

"I didn't believe Gengar for a second when he said you were evil, so I came to help as soon as I could, sorry I'm late."

"Th-thanks, don't suppose you have any healing items?"

"Sorry, I forgot to bring my toolbox, I was in a rush to help."

"You saved us there, Iron. We need to get out of here before Groudon wakes up." Cobalt slowly strolled to them.

"Great id…."

They were cut off by a massive thud sound from the center of the room.

"There he is! Kekeke." Gengar and the mob from Firelink were more foolhardy than Pyre expected. "It's time to end the menace that is Pyre!"

"What are you on about Gengar! Pyre's a hero! He's been freeing the legendaries from the Calamity's control." Cobalt stood by Pyre, steadfast in defense of his friend.

The pokemon slowly surrounded them, forcing Absolute to carry an injured Ivy to them.

"Our troubles only escalated when Pyre showed up! These disasters have only grown exponentially worse since he arrived. It's just as Xatu foretold! He'll destroy us all! Get him!" A Gengar yelled, a maniacal look on his face.

Pyre struggled to stand, but forced himself to anyway. "Guys, just leave, they don't want you…."

Cobalt glared disapprovingly at Pyre. "Hey, we started this whole rescue team thing together, remember! We're partners, and I'm not going anywhere!"

"Things will only grow worse if you are slain here, I'm not just going to allow that!" Absolute added.

"Abandon the guy who saved me and my family, like that's ever gonna happen!" Iron joined in.

Gengar interrupted. "Look at what this wretched monster has done, he's brainwashed these three into laying down their lives for him! This can't stand! Crush him!"

Water types from the mob all let out a barrage of water gun attacks. Pyre forced himself into Absolute's back and took in a deep breath suddenly roaring out and spewing flames to collide with the water, creating a massive cloud of steam.

"Kekeke, look the coward hides himself!"

A few fighting types rushed into the steam cloud. Heavy thuds and the sound of metal sounded out from within before they were cast out of the cloud.

Fire types rushed in, flames blazing bright only to abruptly dim as they were blasted out with water.

"Keke….how are you doing this!"

Somehow, despite the numerous pokemon surrounding and attacking them, these four were winning the battle. Gengar, now furious, rushed through the steam and tackled Pyre out of the fog and began smacking him across the face.

The two tousled and tumbled a moment before Pyre managed to push Gengar off him and slowly stood up.

Unfortunately their victory was short lived.

There was a low growl from beside them.

Pyre barely had time to react, he rushed forward and punched Gengar, his fist laced with energy so it would send the ghost type flying. Then his body exploded with pain as a massive beam engulfed him entirely.

*Within Pyre's Dream*

"Oof, that one looked pretty bad." A familiar voice came. "You aren't just gonna take that are you?"

"C-Cynder…" Pyre was silent.

"Hey big guy, noticed you felt a bit empty lately, but I'm seeing a bit more fullness in there. I know I asked a lot, asking you to hold on to your light."

"I've been trying, but it just feels so empty inside, like I'm missing something."

"I know. But just remember something for me, Pyre." Cynder leaned closer. "The deepest darkness makes the brightest stars, and it's always darkest, just before dawn." The fennekin kissed him.

*The Waking World*

The ground splintered and broke apart around him, and magma took its place effectively trapping him away from the other pokemon. Now he was alone, and looking to his side, Groudon was fully awake.

Despite the danger, Pyre found something exhilarating about the prospect of fighting him alone. A single mistake meant death, he had to fight perfectly.

"Finally, a worthy executioner, Groudon will rid us of this menace once and for all!" Gengar called out, dusting himself off.

The knowledge that his life, all of their lives hinged on him winning this impossible battle, for any normal pokemon, the pressure alone would likely crush them. But Pyre was anything but normal. He was better than normal. Despite how injured and tired his body felt, he felt lighter, and yet more complete, as if there wasn't a gaping emptiness inside him anymore.

Taking a deep breath his tail flame grew back to full size and began to change hue. The sapphire flame slowly adopted a regal violet tone, and his eyes followed suit becoming a vibrant purple. That form had emerged again. It occurred to him that he never named it. But given its focus based nature he wasn't about to either.

His mind was completely on the fight.

When Groudon's fist came plummeting down Pyre dodged it with ease stepping out of the way. The resulting cracking of the ground beneath him only served to elevate him and the Charmander jumped onto the larger pokemons fist and rushed up his arm.

Groudon shook violently trying to shake Pyre off. But the charmander was persistent and seemed to stop and cling onto Groudon just before each shake. Until he reached the larger pokemon's head where he jumped into the air and twisted himself covering both fists in energy and wreathing himself in flames. The combination of flare blitz and two mega punch attacks had the intended effect of slamming Groudon face first into the ground below.

Pyre landed just in front of Groudon. The massive red pokemon lunged forth trying to swallow Pyre whole. The Charmander in his focused state of mind was channeling his aura to hold the legendary Pokemon's mouth open at great cost to his body, the pressure was almost unbearable.

And finally the mouth snapped closed sending Pyre skidding on his back and nearly falling into the magma. The violet hue of his flames vanished.

"Come on, we have to help!" Cobalt called out. But nobody moved, they simply held his rescue team in place as Groudon began lumbering forth.

"We cannot allow our hero to die, you imbeciles!"

Groudon's approaching footsteps were deafening.

"Kekeke, I think not, this little bitch is done for. Kekeke."

"Enough!" Pyre's voice overpowered everything in that moment. Silencing the mob, Gengar, and even Groudon himself. The charmander had stood up facing the mob, a wild almost joyous look in his eyes. "Help if you want or don't! I don't care, but don't get it wrong, he's trying to kill all of us!" Pyre leveled his clawed hand at Groudon. "His first target was Gengar, but I saved him!" Pyre shouted pridefully, showing his joyous smile was not for the danger, but the happiness he felt for protecting someone. "And I'd do the same for any of you! Hate me all you want, I'll still save you if you need to be saved!" The Charmander smiled as tears filled his eyes. "Now get out of here before you get hurt!"

Pyre turned on his heels rushing Groudon with all the strength he had left. His body ignited for one final flare blitz, and as his passion to protect welled up inside him the flames too burned brighter until they scorched the same brilliant sapphire as his tail. It was a desperate final gambit, he suspected he would die here, but if it meant protecting them from Groudon, he was happy with it.

Or do he believed, until his momentum increased with a rush of wind as several attacks passed overhead and blasted the legendary ground type in the chest forcing him to stumble back. Pyre glanced back, not letting his momentum falter. Tears returned to his eyes as he saw they all, his friends, the mob that had hunted him, and even Gengar had all begun to barrage Groudon with attacks. As if Pyre's words had forced loyalty, courage, and inspiration into them.

Another mass of several attacks passed overhead, further pushing Groudon back. The ground type crashed into the wall at the back of the cavern. Pyre jumped up letting the sapphire blitz launch him forward slamming hard into Groudon winding the massive pokemon and forcing him to collapse to the ground.

Working off of pure adrenaline Pyre rushed to groudon's head and pressed his hand claw into the claw mark on his face. The Charmander felt his aura flowing over them both as the mark was cleansed from the legends face.

Pyre fell onto his back as the cavern ceased shaking and the magma cooled in seconds.

"Fuck that was…close…" and the Charmander lost consciousness.

*Plateau of Spirit and Time*

Eclipse was panting heavily, this time not due to the effects of the plateau, but because of the vigorous, almost endless training he'd undergone that day. The Sneasel beside him also looked equally winded.

"Your father will be pleased. It's only been a couple days outside the plateau, and you've matched me in every way." The Sneasel looked over his bruised body. "More than that really, I think you actually have me beat son." The Sneasel chuckled.

"Thanks papa. I really…" Eclipse trailed off.

The Sneasel was going to ask what was wrong, but when he turned back, they both saw the Krookodile struggling to approach.

Eclipse rushed to his side. "Swindle, are you okay? What happened?"

"Moon's dead…Moltres shoved her into some lava she's just straight…" blood seeped out of the krookodile's mouth as he looked down. A Sneasel claw was stabbed into his stomach.

"Papa, what are you doing?" Eclipse pulled the claw out and immediately used controlled flames to seal the wound shut.

"You know what your father said. I wanted to spare you since you care for him. But if you want to prolong his suffering by all means." The Sneasel waved a claw dismissively. "You finish the job."

"But…Papa…" Eclipse looked genuinely hurt. The sneasel's cold stare hurt almost as much as the knowledge that he had to kill Swindle. "But I…"

The dark type held a pleading look on the charmander. And Eclipse began to cry as he pushed Swindle onto his back. The pressure of the plateau was too much and he collapsed onto his back as the onyx tailed charmander mounted him. Eclipse wiped the tears from his eyes as he pressed his hands around Swindle's throat. "I'm sorry….I'm so sorry…I…I.."

"Ecckckhliiiipse….pleeeasssse…" Swindle had started begging. "I….I…looooo.."

The Charmander looked away, tears still streaming from his eyes as he held the pressure. He hated himself. He wanted to stop, but he just couldn't. He was afraid.

Swindle's arms reached up trying to push him off desperately. Until they rested on his hands. Looking down, the Krookodile was still alive, but had seemingly chosen to hold his lover's hands comfortingly.

And Eclipse let up. Swindle took in a deep breath of air, and coughed hard as Eclipse hugged him. "I'm so sorry Swindle… I'm sorry…I never wanted to hurt you…I…i love you too." The charmander held him tight.

"Eclipse." There was a cruel cold that enveloped both of the pokemon. "This is most disappointing. I told you to kill him."

The Charmander felt his body moving on its own as his claws pressed around Swindle's throat again. "Father, wait, p-please!"

Though the other two couldn't see it, the calamitous beings' dark claws laid over top of Eclipse's forcing the fire type to strangle his lover. "I'm afraid this late in the game, I cannot tolerate failures."

"Please, I'm begging you father, I love him, please don't make me do this." Tears were streaming from his eyes again as Swindle struggled against him again.

"That's enough dear." The Sneasel rested his claw upon them. "Swindle need not be of use to you anymore. He's our son's chosen consort. Just as I am yours."

The dark being pulled away. "You're too lenient with the boy. But, you are the one who raised him. You know better than I. Here, allow me to give you one final lesson." The calamitous claw extended over Swindle touching his own mark and removing it with no issue. "Brand him."

"Wh-what?"

"Your father is giving you a gift. You may brand Swindle, and mark him as yours. As your father did to me." The Sneasel turned around and showed the claw mark was upon one of his butt cheeks. "It wasn't the most romantic choice, but it's not for control, it's simply a symbol of his commitment to you."

"Of course should he refuse, I will kill him." That dark voice spoke.

Swindle carefully flipped onto his front and struggled to lift his tail. Eclipse slapped his butt.

"Flip over dingus. I'm not putting it there." Swindle did so, again struggling the whole way. And Eclipse gently rested his claw over where Swindle's heart would be. "I..I love you, Swin…"

"I love you too Clipsy" the Krookodile rested his hands over Eclipse's as the charmander's claw burned onto his chest.

Eclipse looked away blushing deeply at the pet name the dark type had given him.

"Isn't it cute darling?" The Sneasel looked to his side seeing the vortex surrounding his lover subsiding slightly. "Your veil is falling?"

"With each legend Pyre frees, more of my power returns, and I require it less. It is only a defense mechanism after all."

"Shall we leave them to it?"

"You really are too lenient with him. You're lucky you're cute."

The Sneasel smiled at that.